The Gift of Presence
As the year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on one theme that continues to shape every corner of my life: presence. Not the wrapped kind under a tree,…
Why Showing Up With Purpose – at Every Event or Engagement – Builds More Than Just Connections
Most of us attend business lunches, awards, or networking evenings with good intentions - we want to “show face,” support peers, maybe meet someone interesting. But too often, we leave…
Why Entering Awards Matters for Start-Ups: Validation, Visibility & Reflection
October is award season. Across Ireland and beyond, start-ups and solo entrepreneurs polish their pitches, submit applications, and await the outcome. At first glance, awards might look like gala dinners…
September is Strategy Month: Why Thinking Time is Your Secret Advantage
September Feels Like a Fresh Start After the summer pause, schools reopen and business rhythms begin to shift. For me, September is a natural strategy review month: a moment to…
The Question I’ve Been Asking Since I Was a Child
As a child, I often asked my mam a question I’m sure she struggled to answer: “How could one man cause so many to die?” I loved history in school…
The Power of One Conversation
The Power of One Conversation There’s a quote I love that says, “One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever.” When I look back at the moments that…
Awareness in July: The Power of Pausing to Appreciate the Journey
As a speaker, mentor, and panel host, I spend a lot of time focused on growth, resilience, and performance. But July reminds me of something just as vital: awareness and…
Mentoring for Growth: A Speaker and Entrepreneur’s Perspective
By Cora Barnes – Speaker | Mentor | Entrepreneur In my experience, mentoring is one of the most powerful tools available to any professional—whether you're launching a business, developing leadership…
Reconnecting with What Matters
A Morning That Made Space for What Matters Last month, I stepped out of my usual Saturday routine and into a space I didn’t realise I needed so much—the Mastermind…
What Is Motivation? And Why Did I Choose to Become an Entrepreneur?
When I stood in front of a group of students at the School of Business in Maynooth University recently, I opened with a question I’ve asked myself many times over…